Machine for



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

OTHNIEL GILMORE, OF RAYNHAM, MASSACHUSETTS.

MACHINE FOR SMOOTI-IING SOLES OF BOOTS AND SHOES.

Specification of Letters Patent No. 28,674, dated April 19, 1859.

.that the same is fully described and represented in the following specification and the accompanying drawings, of which- Figure l, is a top view. Fig. 2, a side elevation, and Fig. 3, a transverse section of one of the said smoothing wheels.

Owing to the peculiar manner in which the finer kinds of boots and shoes are frequently curved in the sole and at the front of the heel, it often becomes very difficult to smooth the surfaces contiguous to the angle of the sole and front edge of the heel, as in order to accomplish the same, both a convex and a concave and angular cutting edge becomes necessary.

The improved smoothing wheel constituting my invention, is adapted to the smoothing of or reducing any boot or shoe sole having a projecting heel. It is constructed with a circular annulus or rim, A, A, one side of which is made convex in section as shown at a, in Fig. 3, and is flanked by acute angular edges, c, and particularly with its inner edge acute angled and having a heel recess, B, or one large enough to receive the heel while the shank of a shoe -is resting on the grinding surface, a.

Generally speaking, the wheel is made of suflicient internal diameter to allow the toe of the shoe to be moved into the recess,

B, while the shank may be on the part, a, and the heel outside of the edge, b.

The space, B, within the wheel, and formed in part by curving the arms, D, D, as shown in the drawings, or by making the wheel dishing, is a necessary part of the invention as is also that of making the face a, a, with a convex curve laterally and turning one or both edges of it, acute angled. The face, a, is to have a grinding or smoothing surface,and for this purpose may be covered with emery or other suitable grinding material, and if desirable either one or both of the angular flanking surfaces of the face, a, may be made so as to grind or smooth .the leather when forced against such. Iii-general, however, I prefer to have s uch surfaces smooth and to cover the convex surface, a, a, with emery or make it a grinding or reducing surface. A wheel so made can be used for grinding into the angles of a heel or sole as well as for reducing any convexity or concavity of the sole or heel. Therefore,

That I claim as my invention is- The improved manufacture of sole smoothing or reducing wheel, made with the convex grinding annulus, a, a concentric heel recess, B, and acute angled edges, c, arranged substantially as described.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set SETH D. VILBUR, BENJAMIN P. SMITH. 

